Bhubaneswar/Cuttack: The Odisha government has expedited the process for construction of a government medical college and hospital in Kalahandi and Keonjhar district.

This was revealed during a review meeting presided over by chief minister Naveen Patnaik at the State Secretariat here today.

Briefing newsmen after the meeting, Health and Family Welfare minister Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak said a site has been identified in Keonjhar while the tendering process has already started. “Construction of the proposed medical college building will start after the tender is finalised”, he added.

The minister further said for construction of medical college in Keonjhar, the state government will arrange money from district mineral fund.

Nayak also said in Kalahandi, the land has been identified for the medical college. As decided, the Vedanta Group will provide financial assistance for the construction of the medical college while the remaining works will be taken up by the state government.

The minister, who attended the governing body meeting of the Acharya Harihar Regional Cancer Centre in Cuttack later in the day, told media persons that construction of the second campus of the Centre will start very soon for which the 60 acres of land has been identified on the outskirts of Cuttack city.

“Besides, it was decided in the meeting that construction of a new building inside the existing Centre would begin very soon for which Rs 27 crore has been earmarked. This apart, efforts are on to set up an ICU inside its premises”, he added.

The minister also informed that the state government has requested the Medical Council of India (MCI) to give permission for opening PG Courses on Oncology. “We hope that the MCI will visit the Centre very soon and give permission so that more doctors would be appointed”, he noted.

Asked about the proposal of the state government to provide free cancer treatment to poor and needy patients, Nayak said a decision has been taken to set up cancer detection and screening centres in seven district headquarters hospitals and provide free chemo medicines to the patients.